Chapter Thirty-Eight
Thirteen Years Ago
“Cowboys and cowgirls, are you ready for a RODEO!”
“Daddy, that’s your cue to start gettin’ loaded,” I said with my hands on my hips.
Dad was still buckling his chaps around his belt, smiling up toward the packed arena. “That’s right, Ally girl. How do I look?”
I observed his all-too-familiar choices. A solid blue pearl snap, Wranglers, his old cowboy hat, chaps, gloves, and boots, of course. “You’re ready,” I said with a nod.
I was beyond excited to even be there.
Mom said since the rodeo was only an eight-hour drive from Amarillo, that I could come with Daddy and even stay in a hotel tonight! She didn’t want to come, which was fine with me because that meant I got to stand behind the chute and watch!
Talk about a dream come true.
Daddy leaned down and fixed one of the braids on my shoulder. “I’m so glad you wanted to come with me, cowgirl.”
I beamed at him. “Ice cream after the show?”
He nodded coolly, even though neither of us had had dinner yet. “I’ll be off that horse in eight seconds, and we’ll be on our way to some ice cream.”
“Promise?” I asked, holding my hand out. “You’re not allowed to fall off, or the deal is off.”
He shook my hand, his crooked smile breaking his cocky facade. “I promise I’ll be safe so I can get a strawberry cone.”
“Deal.”
He kissed the top of my head and stood. “Alrighty, I’m gonna go get bucked around for a bit. You’ll be a good girl back here?”
I nodded. “Yes, Daddy.”
“See you in a sec, Ally,” he waved again, rushing toward the chutes.
I waited until his back was turned and climbed onto the fence, securing the best seat in the house for my view.
“All right, Texas! Lean into those rails and get your heels clicking, ‘cause we’ve got a heavy hitter movin’ into Chute Number Two!
” The announcer was booming across the arena.
“This man needs no introduction in this arena. He’s a former champion, a grit-and-glory specialist, and a fan favorite from right across the line in Amarillo. Give it up for CLAY FOOOORD!”
The crowd roared in response, screaming madly.
I felt a rush of pride in my heart, flooding my body. Everyone here was cheering for my dad! I knew he was a good rider, but I didn’t know he was that good!
“He’s matched up tonight against the Widowmaker! A horse that has a reputation for tossing even the greatest cowboys down on their backs. Is Clay Ford ready? Is the Widowmaker ready? Gate man, give him what he asked for!”
Daddy gave a single sharp nod to the gate, and it was thrown open.
I leaned forward, desperate not to miss a single second.
His hand was raised high, his feet up at the horse’s shoulders, and he was bouncing just in time with the jumps. It was a perfect ride, despite the horse bucking and spinning wilder than anything I’d ever seen.
I was practically leaning over the fence, cheering as loud as I could for my dad.
If he got a good score from this ride, we would all get to go to Vegas with him for the finals in December! I could hardly believe it. Even Mom had started talking about buying a new dress for it.
The announcer’s voice was a rhythmic boom, vibrating the metal of the fence I was perched on.
“He’s got him timed, Texas. Give him the boost he needs to finish this ride! Three…two…one…”
The whistle screamed.
“EIGHT SECONDS! Mark him high, judges. That is the ride of the weekend!”
I was cheering so hard my throat was starting to ache.
Daddy’s face looked up at the thousands of people screaming for him. He was soaking it all in, the biggest smile I’d ever seen growing on his face.
He turned back to look over his shoulder, looking for me.
I waved enthusiastically to catch his attention.
He reached down to pull his hand from the rigging.
“WOAH WATCH OUT!”
The horse didn’t stop when the whistle had blown. Just as Daddy’s hand was pulled from the rope, the horse planted its front legs and whipped its hindquarters in a violent, jagged spin.
I screamed.
Daddy was weightless.
He was tossed off the horse, landing like a sack of grain, flat on his back in the center of the arena.
“Daddy, get up!” I shrieked.
The horse slammed his legs down.
I heard the wet, sickening crunch as the hoof landed on his chest.
“Daddy!” I wailed.
The horse’s hoof drove directly into the blue pearl-snap shirt I had just told him looked good.
The stadium wasn’t just silent, it was hollow.
I was on the top of the fence.
The pickup men had finally caught hold of the wild horse and were dragging it back to the chutes.
I could hear the ambulance’s siren, the murmuring of the crowd, but I pushed it all away. I needed to get to my daddy.
His back arched. He wasn’t getting up; he was fighting for air. I could see his mouth open, a dark, thick red color staining his teeth.
I jumped off the fence and started running toward him
He tried to scream, but only a wet whistling sound came out.
I saw his hand, the hand that had just shaken mine in a promise, clawing at the dirt. His fingers curling into the arena floor as if it would help him get a breath in.
The paramedics had stormed into the dirt, running faster than my little legs could take me.
I lunged toward him, but strong hands caught my middle.
“You can’t be here!” They yelled at me.
“Daddy!” I was shrieking over and over again until my voice was hoarse.
It was one of the paramedics holding me back, trying to shush and calm me, but I was beyond listening. “Let go of me!” I shouted at him.
The other paramedics were surrounding him, but I could see his “baby blues” as they found mine.
He looked right at me. The cockiness was gone. The hero was gone. There was only a terrifying, wide-eyed panic.
“Daddy!” I sobbed.
His hand was outstretched, reaching toward me now.
I was reaching as far as I could toward him.
He coughed and an eruption of blood shot from his mouth, spilling out his cheeks and splashing in the dirt.
I was flailing my limbs, fighting the medic who was holding me back from my dad.
And then, within an instant, the light in his bright blue eyes went out. Like a candle blown out by the wind.
The hand reaching for me fell limp into the dirt, creating a cloud of dust around it.